I have always enjoyed previous Neil White books and it's always exciting to see a new series so I was looking forward to this latest release. However, if you would have asked me when I was at the 25% mark what I thought I would have given it a 3/5 at a push. Thankfully the book picked up pace and by the end started to tick all the boxes so eventually I ended up rating it a 4/5. Surprisingly though I actually dithered over the rating of this due to a number of things that seemed a little sluggish. The book is definitely a slow starter and to be totally truthful it took me until the halfway mark to actually like one of the main characters Dan who is a defence lawyer working a new case. Jayne Brett who is the other main character was a whole other ball game and she ticked every box as far as characters go.

The story line centres around a new Murder Case that lands on Dan's lap. Initially, I felt that it took some time to build up the case and for the reader to feel like you are the grip of things. Thankfully once past that sluggish start, everything picks up in pace and it seemed mush more like the usual type of books Neil White writes. Robert Carter is due to stand trial for Murder and Dan having only 2 weeks to prepare for the case decides to do his own sort of investigation yo allow him to get up to speed.

It soon becomes clear that this is not a simple cut and dried case of 'he did it, put him to trial'. Dan along with Jayne's help start to uncover a whole bunch of issue which throw the question out as to whether Carter is guilty or not. It made a change to see a lawyer in the driving seat as opposed to a copper. What makes an interesting thread to this story is Jayne and her past. She is one of Dan's ex clients who murdered somebody and it made her character even more intriguing. After the disappointingly slow start that last part of the book more than made up for it with danger literally knocking at Dan and Jayne's door. By the time I had finished I realised that I actually wanted to read more and was pleased that White decided to do a new series and one which I think will prove extremely popular,

This is book one in the Dan Grant series. I was eagerly waiting to read this book and I was not disappointed. It starts off quite slow but quickly gathers pace. Dan, a lawyer, is given a case two weeks before it comes to court. Robert Carter is charged with murdering Mary Kendricks and Dan fights for the truth with the help of Jayne Brett, his investigator. I would certainly want Dan on my side as his search for the truth builds to a climax. A really good insight into the criminal justice system, the book is part murder investigation and part courtroom drama. If you like crime thrillers, you will enjoy this book. Neil White never disappoints and I look forward to more from Dan and Jayne. Many thanks to the publishers and Net Galley for my copy. I reviewed on Goodreads.

Interesting and gritty crime novel. Good characters that I hope we hear more of.

I have read most ofNeil White's earlier novels and enjoyed them. It has been a while since he produced anything new. I was pleased to get the opportunity to review his new novel From The Shadows.

Mary Kendricks, a smart, pretty, twenty-four-year-old teacher, has been brutally murdered and Robert Carter is accused of killing her.

When defence lawyer, Dan Grant inherits Carter's case only weeks before the trial starts, everyone expects him just to babysit it, but Dan's not that kind of lawyer. He'll follow the evidence - wherever it takes him.

But as Dan and his investigator Jayne Brett look into the case, they discover that there is more to it than meets the eye. In order to do their jobs they need to push the limits of the system, even if it means putting themselves in danger.
The first chapter starts with the first day of the trial, then chapter two goes back 14 days to Dan getting the case. I'm not a big fan of changing time lines, preferring a linear narrative but it works fine in this novel as you get the immediacy of the trial and the sense that Dan and Jayne are planning something. But What ?

With an ending that will have you holding your breath and a twisted, often surprising path to get you there From The Shadows is gripping and highly unputdownable crime fiction at its, page turning and captivating best. I really enjoyed it. More please. Dan and Jayne are characters I would like to see more of..

A good start to a new series. Fast and furious.

Dan Grant is handed a trial case two weeks before it goes to court. It is the trial of Robert Carter accused of murdering Mary Kendricks, a beautiful young woman he was reportedly stalking. Dan is just expected to baby-sit the case as it seems open and shut plus the defendant has pleaded guilty.

He and his investigator, Jayne Brett, (an ex client), are not convinced it is that simple and they embark on an investigation that will stun the courts and you!

This book is a mix of legal drama and murder investigation; both of which made for compelling reading. Dan and Jayne are good characters, likeable and easy to understand. There is an undercurrent of romance between the two and a lot of ‘what if things were different’.

It started a bit slowly but that didn’t put me off as it was purely setting the scene for an explosive second half. Right the way through you swing from did he or didn’t do it, and then if he didn’t do it how would Dan prove it?

It gives you an insight into the ‘Justice System’, and it isn’t always about guilt or innocence but who is the better lawyer and can cast enough doubt.

A very good book, well written and keeps moving along nicely until the end when it shocks and stuns.

Most definitely a series to continue to follow.

Helen

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.

Thank you to NetGalley for my copy of this novel.

I enjoyed From the Shadows, there were great characters & a well-written story
It felt a little slow at the beginning, but it definitely picked up & was worth the read. I'm excited for the next book in the series!

This book started off way too slow. It took me way too long to read this book because I was bored and not interested. The book did finally get moving along and I did want to finish reading the book. Dan Grant is a lawyer you do want on your side I will give you that. He fights for the truth not just helping his client out and in this case was the best thing for his client. I think this book would have been better if it wasn't so slow to read at first.

Robert Carter's lawyer, Shelley Greenwood, hands his murder case over to Dan Grant, 2 weeks before the trial. She gives the reason as a personal conflict but that's all she will say. Dan and his investigator Jayne Brett are determined to find the truth, and in doing so uncover intimidation, silent or lying witnesses, corruption, and more.
The plot was fast paced and filled with suspense from beginning to end. The characters were realistic and I liked the under current of attraction between Dan and Jayne that neither followed up. They worked well together and I will watch for them to be together again. The ending worked very well for me, it had closure but left you impatiently wanting the second novel in the series.
I enjoyed reading it and recommend it to anyone who is looking for a good read.

I have read other Neil White books and really enjoyed them and this one does not disappoint. Action packed, full of twists and turns in the plot and very well written. A page turner from start to finish and well worth reading.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Bonnier Zaffre for an advance copy of From The Shadows, a standalone thriller featuring lawyer Dan Grant and his investigator Jayne Brett.

2 weeks before his trial for the murder of Mary Kendricks Robert Carter's lawyer, Shelley Greenwood, resigns the case citing conflict of interest and passes it to Dan Grant. Shelley won't talk about the case, leaving Dan and Jayne to do their own investigating but everyone seems intimidated, including their client, so reaching the truth is difficult.

Chapter one starts with day one of the trial and then chapter two flashes back 14 days to Dan getting the case. Normally I'm not a big fan of different time lines, preferring a linear narrative but it works well in this novel as you get the immediacy of the trial and the intriguing sense that Dan and Jayne are planning something but no idea what and the counterbalance of the flashbacks which gradually fill in the detail.

From The Shadows is a great read, tense, exciting and intriguing, which held my interest throughout. I sometimes felt that I couldn't turn the pages fast enough to find out what was coming next. The plotting is clever and the twists unexpected. The only letdown is how Dan and Jayne come by the final parts of the jigsaw. I felt it is a bit contrived and coincidental but this is a minor quibble in an otherwise engrossing read.

The characterisation is interesting. Dan Grant is a defence lawyer so he makes his living on acquittals and doesn't lose any sleep over it but he sees himself as a man of integrity. It's a fascinating dichotomy and I'm not sure I followed all his arguments/justifications but his actions suggest that winning matters. Jayne Brett is different. She is a not very successful self employed investigator so she's involved to earn enough money to feed herself. She seems to have a stronger moral compass but beggars can't be choosers.

I thoroughly enjoyed From The Shadows and have no hesitation in recommending it as a good read.

Who would want to kill 24-year-old teacher Mary Kendricks? Robert Carter has been accused and is being held for the crime. Dan Carter is the defense lawyer who gets stuck with the case, and everybody expects him to just sit back and twiddle his thumbs, but Dan isn’t about to do that. He begins to investigate the case with his coworker Jayne Brett and they discover more than one suspect,and there may be more lives on the line if they don’t get this volatile case solved

I have often found that authors with no real experience in crime don’t always write criminals with believable humanity and/or their law enforcement characters come off rigid and one dimensional but the rest of the book is good. Then you have those who spent their careers either as law enforcement, attorneys, etc who write good characters that could, and probably, are seemingly based on real people but the rest of the book shows they should’ve stuck to their day jobs; bad dialogue, plot holes, and sentence structure so bad you think they must’ve bribed teachers to pass them through school.

On rare occasions an author like Neil White comes along and creates the whole package. White’s experience as a criminal lawyer shines through in his character development of Dan Grant and Jayne Brett among others. It takes a criminal lawyer to be able to write a good version of one so I often wondered when reading this if there was anything of White himself in how he created Grant. Brett I found very interesting and complex especially from my view point as a woman who has been in an abusive relationship. I felt there was a lot of authenticity in how he described what she felt, how she was dealing with it and the long term impact it can have on her psycho-social development.

There weren’t any obvious plot issues as it kept my attention with intriguing action and a thrilling ending. This was such a fast paced novel I was glued to the pages needing to know how Grant and Brett were going to handle Carter’s case.

White’s writing reminded me a bit of John Grisham’s early days when he used to write those really good legal thrillers that were heavy on needing good characters to pull the story along. So if that’s your thing you really need to check this book out.